I recently read 'Blood River' by Tim Butcher. Very good book which I recommend to everyone.
From a South African point of view his insights hit the nail on the head. The one thing we Saffers fear the most is that our beautiful land will be forced down the same path as [most] of the other countries in Africa. A dismal prospect.
Someone said the other day that we are on page 4 of 'the book Mugabe Wrote'. Heaven forfend. It is a bit worrying though when Rhodesian ex-pats keep harping on the fact that they are seeing exactly the same spiral downwards here that occurred in [now] Zimbabwe. They point to the Health, Education, Farm Evictions [which are happening here, but under the radar] and other things like Unemployment issues. Crime of course is a given as an indicator of the lack of control the government are exercising. Crooks holding positions of power and influence are another item. The list goes on.....
Someone made an interesting comment the other day comparing the current government with the previous government [I hate the word 'regime']. The premise is that all governments suffer from some level of corruption [surely true], but that while the previous bunch would take $1m out of an Aid package of $10m and share it with their friends, the current bunch will eat $9m out of the $10m and then use the rest for cover-up bribes.
But we love it here. My family have been resident on South African soil for over 200 years, and we are African, albeit white. Perhaps it's time for a new class of citizen - the European-African. I mean, America has it's African-Americans, so why not?
Feb 12, 2011
All Ye Takers. . .
Ah all you takers, grabbing everything you can, as fast as you can. Indeed one day you will be able to say,"I got it all." But I doubt that you will still 'have it all' by then.
What you forget is this: What goes around, comes around, and you cannot get away from it. It will happen to you as you have caused it to happen to others. Make no mistake, you might still have the fat bank account, the fancy car/s, the mansion/s, the holidays in Europe or wherever, but you lives will be empty, filled with the emptiness that only loneliness can bring. Enjoy. This is your lot.
You see, we are required to go through life uplifting those around us, supporting those in need, helping each other where possible, and if we don't then be sure we will get our just deserts.
Because God wrote it into the rules, and like gravity, you cannot get away from it.
Selah.
What you forget is this: What goes around, comes around, and you cannot get away from it. It will happen to you as you have caused it to happen to others. Make no mistake, you might still have the fat bank account, the fancy car/s, the mansion/s, the holidays in Europe or wherever, but you lives will be empty, filled with the emptiness that only loneliness can bring. Enjoy. This is your lot.
You see, we are required to go through life uplifting those around us, supporting those in need, helping each other where possible, and if we don't then be sure we will get our just deserts.
Because God wrote it into the rules, and like gravity, you cannot get away from it.
Selah.
Where is Web 2.0 going?
My contact details are LinkedIn, my friends are on Facebook, I use Twitter to collect / throw things around faster, I TinyURL my links to shrink them, I have 7 blogs and 3 free websites, I use 2 on-line photo repositories and 3 on-line email accounts and my bookmarks are delicious.
I Digg stuff, I Stumble over things, I use 4 different browsers - for various reasons, and have in excess of 30 add-ons active in Firefox, I use two different browser-based blogging tools.
I have a file where I keep track of all my logins and passwords [but it's not on my laptop!], and about 40 active RSS feeds updating daily [some hourly] which I read in one of 3 RSS readers, my work colleagues are in a different country, as are my customers,
The only thing I don't do is Mash all of these things together, but just you wait! All I need is to find a good open-source Mashup.
Any ideas?
I Digg stuff, I Stumble over things, I use 4 different browsers - for various reasons, and have in excess of 30 add-ons active in Firefox, I use two different browser-based blogging tools.
I have a file where I keep track of all my logins and passwords [but it's not on my laptop!], and about 40 active RSS feeds updating daily [some hourly] which I read in one of 3 RSS readers, my work colleagues are in a different country, as are my customers,
The only thing I don't do is Mash all of these things together, but just you wait! All I need is to find a good open-source Mashup.
Any ideas?
How not to do business in Africa
This is an illustration, or a parable, I cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information and I report it only as hearsay.
A certain international financial aid organisation approved a grant to the government of a particular country, said grant to assist in an infrastructure upgrade designed to improve conditions in many areas. In this case the funds [some millions of US $] were earmarked for an IT project within a particular government department.
Company's A, B and C applied for the tender and duly submitted their proposals. At an unspecified time during this process a representative of Company C met with Mr. X, a government official responsible for the project. An agreement was reached, funds changed hands and they parted the best of friends.
When the tender decision was made, Company's A and B were informed that their bids was unsuccessful. Based on the fact that their solution was provably more efficient, and offered at a lower price, they approached the financial institution in protest. The institution agreed that, based on the numbers, Company A's proposal was more appealing so in all fairness they decided to allow all Company's to present their solutions, after which they would make a final decision regarding who would be awarded the tender.
The rivals presented their proposals and the adjudicators were unanimous in their decision: the pre-approved funds would only be awarded if the government department accepted the proposal of Company A.
Unfortunately Mr. X had in the meantime sumptuously partaken of the 'gift' received and was not in an accomodating frame of mind so the deal died right there and then.
Company C lost credibility [in addition to the unspecified amount that constituted the 'gift'], Company A lost the deal - your classic lose-lose scenario, and Mr. X was smiling all the way to the bank.
What do we learn from this:
1] When greed overcomes morality everyone loses
2] The surface of business in Africa is only the surface
3] There is a crook everywhere you look
4] Looking good does not necessarily being / doing good.
etc. etc. etc.
What pains me is that this kind of behaviour is rife all over the world, but in Africa this method of doing business is termed 'relationship-based' - you have a relationship with the person who greases your palm the fastest, with the most money. There is no real friendship, or trust, or respect. Just greed. Sad.
A certain international financial aid organisation approved a grant to the government of a particular country, said grant to assist in an infrastructure upgrade designed to improve conditions in many areas. In this case the funds [some millions of US $] were earmarked for an IT project within a particular government department.
Company's A, B and C applied for the tender and duly submitted their proposals. At an unspecified time during this process a representative of Company C met with Mr. X, a government official responsible for the project. An agreement was reached, funds changed hands and they parted the best of friends.
When the tender decision was made, Company's A and B were informed that their bids was unsuccessful. Based on the fact that their solution was provably more efficient, and offered at a lower price, they approached the financial institution in protest. The institution agreed that, based on the numbers, Company A's proposal was more appealing so in all fairness they decided to allow all Company's to present their solutions, after which they would make a final decision regarding who would be awarded the tender.
The rivals presented their proposals and the adjudicators were unanimous in their decision: the pre-approved funds would only be awarded if the government department accepted the proposal of Company A.
Unfortunately Mr. X had in the meantime sumptuously partaken of the 'gift' received and was not in an accomodating frame of mind so the deal died right there and then.
Company C lost credibility [in addition to the unspecified amount that constituted the 'gift'], Company A lost the deal - your classic lose-lose scenario, and Mr. X was smiling all the way to the bank.
What do we learn from this:
1] When greed overcomes morality everyone loses
2] The surface of business in Africa is only the surface
3] There is a crook everywhere you look
4] Looking good does not necessarily being / doing good.
etc. etc. etc.
What pains me is that this kind of behaviour is rife all over the world, but in Africa this method of doing business is termed 'relationship-based' - you have a relationship with the person who greases your palm the fastest, with the most money. There is no real friendship, or trust, or respect. Just greed. Sad.
Feb 9, 2011
Charles Spurgeon: Morning devotion for Feb 9
Morning, February
Found this very instructional - every Christian should follow these guidelines [extracted from Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening devotionals].
“And David enquired of the Lord.” - 2 Samuel 5:23
When David made this enquiry he had just fought the Philistines, and gained a signal victory. The Philistines came up in great hosts, but, by the help of God, David had easily put them to flight. Note, however, that when they came a second time, David did not go up to fight them without enquiring of the Lord. Once he had been victorious, and he might have said, as many have in other cases, “I shall be victorious again; I may rest quite sure that if I have conquered once I shall triumph yet again. Wherefore should I tarry to seek at the Lord’s hands?” Not so, David. He had gained one battle by the strength of the Lord; he would not venture upon another until he had ensured the same. He enquired, “Shall I go up against them?” He waited until God’s sign was given.
Learn from David to take no step without God. Christian, if thou wouldst know the path of duty, take God for thy compass; if thou wouldst steer thy ship through the dark billows, put the tiller into the hand of the Almighty. Many a rock might be escaped, if we would let our Father take the helm; many a shoal or quicksand we might well avoid, if we would leave to his sovereign will to choose and to command.
The Puritan said, “As sure as ever a Christian carves for himself, he'll cut his own fingers;” this is a great truth. Said another old divine, “He that goes before the cloud of God’s providence goes on a fool’s errand;” and so he does. We must mark God’s providence leading us; and if providence tarries, tarry till providence comes. He who goes before providence, will be very glad to run back again. “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go,” is God’s promise to his people.
Let us, then, take all our perplexities to him, and say, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” Leave not thy chamber this morning without enquiring of the Lord.
Found this very instructional - every Christian should follow these guidelines [extracted from Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening devotionals].
“And David enquired of the Lord.” - 2 Samuel 5:23
When David made this enquiry he had just fought the Philistines, and gained a signal victory. The Philistines came up in great hosts, but, by the help of God, David had easily put them to flight. Note, however, that when they came a second time, David did not go up to fight them without enquiring of the Lord. Once he had been victorious, and he might have said, as many have in other cases, “I shall be victorious again; I may rest quite sure that if I have conquered once I shall triumph yet again. Wherefore should I tarry to seek at the Lord’s hands?” Not so, David. He had gained one battle by the strength of the Lord; he would not venture upon another until he had ensured the same. He enquired, “Shall I go up against them?” He waited until God’s sign was given.
Learn from David to take no step without God. Christian, if thou wouldst know the path of duty, take God for thy compass; if thou wouldst steer thy ship through the dark billows, put the tiller into the hand of the Almighty. Many a rock might be escaped, if we would let our Father take the helm; many a shoal or quicksand we might well avoid, if we would leave to his sovereign will to choose and to command.
The Puritan said, “As sure as ever a Christian carves for himself, he'll cut his own fingers;” this is a great truth. Said another old divine, “He that goes before the cloud of God’s providence goes on a fool’s errand;” and so he does. We must mark God’s providence leading us; and if providence tarries, tarry till providence comes. He who goes before providence, will be very glad to run back again. “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go,” is God’s promise to his people.
Let us, then, take all our perplexities to him, and say, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” Leave not thy chamber this morning without enquiring of the Lord.
Feb 8, 2011
Satan's meeting
Read this even if you're busy, make time and read it!!!!!!!!!!
Satan called a worldwide convention of demons. In his opening address he said,''
We can't keep Christians from going to church. We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth. We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their saviour. Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken. So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners, BUT steal their time, so they don't have any to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ.
This is what I want you to do;
Distract them from gaining hold of their Saviour and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!''
''How shall we do this?'' his demons shouted.
This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ.
It will work!
It will work!
It was quite a plan! The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there and having little time for their God or their families or to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives.
I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his schemes? You be the judge!!!!!
Does 'BUSY' mean: Being Under Satan's Yoke?
Satan called a worldwide convention of demons. In his opening address he said,''
We can't keep Christians from going to church. We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth. We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their saviour. Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken. So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners, BUT steal their time, so they don't have any to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ.
This is what I want you to do;
Distract them from gaining hold of their Saviour and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!''
''How shall we do this?'' his demons shouted.
- ''Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds.
- Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow.
- Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles.
- Keep them from spending time with their children.
- As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work!
- Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice.
- Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive, and to keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home, and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly.
This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ.
- Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers.
- Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day.
- Invade their driving moments with billboards.
- Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hope.
- Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives.
- Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night. Give them headaches too!
- If they don't give their husbands the love they need, they will begin to look elsewhere.
- Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the real meaning of Christmas.
- Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about his resurrection andpower over sin and death.
- Even in their recreation, let them be excessive , have them return from their recreation exhausted.
- Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's creation.
- Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead.
- Keep them busy, busy, busy!
- And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences.
- Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus.
It will work!
It will work!
It was quite a plan! The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there and having little time for their God or their families or to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives.
I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his schemes? You be the judge!!!!!
Does 'BUSY' mean: Being Under Satan's Yoke?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)